The 1973 Major League Baseball season was the first season of the designated hitter, designated hitter rule in the American League.
["The Historical Evolution of the Designated Hitter Rule,"](_blank)
Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), John Cronin, Fall 2016.
American League Umpire (baseball), umpires began wearing red blazers with blue pants, a change from the navy blue coats and gray pants worn from 1968 to 1972. The red blazers were worn through 1979.
California Angels ace pitcher Nolan Ryan broke Sandy Koufax's 1965 strikeout record of 382 when he struck out 383 batters during the season.
The 1973 Oakland Athletics season, Oakland Athletics won their second straight 1973 World Series, World Series championship in seven games over the 1973 New York Mets season, New York Mets.
The Kansas City Royals moved their home games from Municipal Stadium to the new Royals Stadium (adjacent to the Kansas City Chiefs, Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium, football facility) and also hosted the 1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, All-Star Game on July 24 with the NL defeating the AL, 7–1.
The New York Yankees played their final season at the original Yankee Stadium (1923), Yankee Stadium before the stadium closed for remodeling during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
On June 19, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds and Willie Davis (baseball), Willie Davis of the Los Angeles Dodgers both collect their 2000th career hit. It was a single for Rose against the San Francisco Giants while Davis hit a home run against the Atlanta Braves.
A 1973 Major League Baseball lockout, lockout in the offseason (February 8–25) did not result in any regular season games being canceled, but the start of spring training was delayed.
Awards and honors
*Baseball Hall of Fame
**Roberto Clemente
**Billy Evans
**Monte Irvin
**George Kelly (baseball), George Kelly
**Warren Spahn
**Mickey Welch
*MLB Most Valuable Player Award, Most Valuable Player
**Reggie Jackson (AL) Oakland Athletics
**Pete Rose (NL) Cincinnati Reds
*Cy Young Award
**Jim Palmer (AL) Baltimore Orioles
**Tom Seaver (NL) New York Mets
*MLB Rookie of the Year Award, Rookie of the Year
**Al Bumbry (AL) Baltimore Orioles
**Gary Matthews (NL) San Francisco Giants
*Gold Glove Award
**George Scott (first baseman), George Scott (1B) (AL)
**Bobby Grich (2B) (AL)
**Brooks Robinson (3B) (AL)
**Mark Belanger (SS) (AL)
**Paul Blair (baseball), Paul Blair (OF) (AL)
**Amos Otis (OF) (AL)
**Mickey Stanley (OF) (AL)
**Thurman Munson (C) (AL)
**Jim Kaat (P) (AL)
Standings
American League
National League
Postseason
Bracket